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HISPANIC HERITAGE MONTH IS AN NATIONAL ANNUAL CELEBRATION, ALWAYS ON SEPTEMBER THE 15TH THROUGH OCTOBER THE 15TH, TO RECOGNIZE THE RICH CULTURE, CULTURAL HERITAGE, AND SIGNIFICANT CONTRIBUTIONS OF THE HISPANIC COMMUNITY IN AMERICAN SOCIETY.
FIRST RECOGNIZED IN 1968, AND OF COURSE, WE HAVE OUR OWN VERSION OF HISPANIC HERITAGE MONTH CELEBRATION HERE IN HOUSTON.
AS YOU'VE SEEN HERE TODAY, UH, THE MAYOR'S HISPANIC ADVISORY BOARD SERVES AS A LIAISON BETWEEN THE HISPANIC COMMUNITY AND MAYOR JOHN WHITMEYER, AND ADVISES THE MAYOR ON ISSUES OF SIGNIFICANCE TO THE COMMUNITY HERE IN HOUSTON.
WE ARE ALSO DELIGHTED TO BE WELCOMED BY AND JOINED BY ALMA IN THIS KICKOFF CEREMONY, AND WE THANK YOU AND APPLAUD ALMA ON ITS MISSION OF CREATING THE FIRST HISPANIC MUSEUM AND CULTURAL CENTER HERE IN THE CITY OF HOUSTON.
WE WANNA, WE WANNA THANK HOUSTON MAYOR JOHN WHITMEYER FOR HIS STRONG SUPPORT OF OUR COMMUNITY.
HE'S ALWAYS BEEN THERE FOR US FROM THE BEGINNING, AND WE THANK HIM FOR THAT AND THANK HIM FOR HIS SUPPORT OF THE LATINO COMMUNITY.
MAYOR WHITMEYER HAD A CONFLICT, UH, WITH IMPORTANT CITY BUSINESS.
HE WANTED TO BE HERE, AND SO MAYOR WHITMEYER ALSO EXTENDS HIS WELCOME TO YOU TODAY.
WE HAVE SOME OTHER, UH, SPECIAL GUESTS WE WANNA RECOGNIZE HERE BEFORE WE TURN IT OVER.
AND THAT IS, UH, ADDITIONALLY, WE HAVE SEVERAL COUNCIL MEMBERS WHO ARE HERE, INCLUDING SPONSORS.
COUNCIL MEMBER JULIAN RAMIREZ, AND COME ON UP AS I, AS I CALL YOUR COUNCIL MEMBER RAMIREZ.
COUNCIL MEMBER MARIO CASTILLO IS HERE.
COUNCIL MEMBER JOAQUIN MARTINEZ IS RIGHT OVER THERE.
COUNCIL MEMBER EDWARD POLLARD IS HERE.
COUNCIL MEMBER SALLY ALCORN IS HERE.
AND DID I HEAR COUNCIL MEMBER CARTER IS HERE.
ANY OTHER MEMBERS OF CITY COUNCIL HERE? WE'RE DELIGHTED ALSO TO HAVE SOME PRIOR, UH, COUNCIL MEMBERS WITH US TODAY.
FORMER COUNCIL MEMBER ROBERT GALLEGOS AND GRACIE SIGNS THE FORMER MAYOR PRO TEM GRACIE SIGNS IS, IS HERE.
AND WE'RE DELIGHTED TO HAVE COMMISSIONER ADRIAN GARCIA HERE WITH US FROM HARRIS COUNTY.
WE ARE DELIGHTED TO HAVE OUR HARRIS COUNTY TAX ASSESSOR COLLECTOR, ANNETTE RAMIREZ, WHO IS HERE.
ANNETTE, PLEASE BE RECOGNIZED.
WE HAVE, UH, THE PRESIDENT, THE FIRST HISPANIC AND LATINA EVER TO BE PRESIDENT OF THE HOUSTON ARTS ALLIANCE.
AND WE HAVE OUR PORT OF HOUSTON, UH, COMMISSIONER WENDY MONTOYA IS HERE.
WENDY, WHERE ARE YOU? RAISE YOUR HAND OVER THERE, WENDY.
AND WE HAVE ONE BIG ANNOUNCEMENT WE WANNA MENTION FROM THE MAYOR'S HISPANIC ADVISORY BOARD.
UH, THIS IS A KICKOFF CEREMONY, BUT WE ALSO HAVE OUR ANNUAL AWARDS CELEBRATION, WHICH WILL BE ON OCTOBER THE SIXTH AT 6:00 PM AT THE BALLROOM AT BAYOU PLACE.
IT'S GONNA BE A WONDERFUL CELEBRATION OF HISPANIC CULTURE.
AND WE'RE GONNA RECOGNIZE MAYOR WHIT MEYER'S, UH, ANNUAL AWARD, UH, UH, RECIPIENTS THERE FROM, UH, HISPANIC, FROM THE LIFETIME ACHIEVEMENT, ALL THE WAY TO UP MANY OTHER CATEGORIES.
UH, I'D BE REMISS IF I DIDN'T MENTION THAT AT THE TABLE, OUR FORMS, IF YOU WANNA SPONSOR THAT EVENT.
DID I DO MY JOB ON THAT? OKAY.
UH, WE HAVE, UH, ALSO JUDGE ANGELA RODRIGUEZ.
JUDGE RODRIGUEZ, NOT ONLY DO WE THANK YOU JUDGE RODRIGUEZ FOR YOUR SERVICE, BUT YOU JUST HAD THE FIES FIESTA RIOS PARADE, A WONDERFUL MILESTONE BY JUDGE ARMANDO RODRIGUEZ, YOUR FATHER.
AND THANK YOU FOR CONTINUING THAT WONDERFUL CEREMONY, AND WE THANK YOU FOR THAT.
UH, ANY OTHER ANNOUNCEMENTS? LENORE, YOU WANNA SAY A FEW WORDS? YEAH.
UH, AND I WANT TO NOW, UH, WELCOME TO THE STAGE OUR FRIENDS AT ALMA, WHO ARE GOING TO MAKE A FEW WORDS ABOUT, UH, THEIR PROGRAMS AND UPCOMING EVENTS.
SO PLEASE, UH, JOIN ME IN RECOGNIZING PRESIDENT CARLOS DUATE, AS WELL AS CHAIRMAN OF THE BOARD, OUR OWN DEAR FRIEND, GERALD, DINO WA, UH, WISE IS HERE AS WELL.
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YOU ALL.ON BEHALF OF ALMA, I WANT TO THANK THE CITY OF HOUSTON FOR THE, THE PROCLAMATION THAT WE'RE ABOUT TO RECEIVE, UH, OBVIOUSLY THE HISPANIC, THE MAYOR'S HISPANIC ADVISORY BOARD FOR CO-PRODUCING TODAY'S CELEBRATION.
AND I ALSO WANT TO RECOGNIZE COUNCIL MEMBERS, FOUNDATIONS, OUR MADRINA AND PADRINOS, AND ALL OF THOSE WHO HAVE SUPPORTED US AND CONTINUE TO CHAMPION OUR WORK.
ALMA'S MISSION IS CLEAR TO HELP THE NATION UNDERSTAND AMERICAN LATINOS TO SHOWCASE OUR SOUL THROUGH ARTS AND CULTURE, AND THROUGH AND TO INSPIRE NEW GENERATIONS.
WE WILL ACHIEVE THIS BY BUILDING A WORLD CLASS MUSEUM AND ARTS AND CULTURE COMPLEX THAT WILL POSITION HOUSTON AT THE FOREFRONT OF AMERICAN LATINO CULTURAL EXPRESSION, AS WE KNOW.
YEAH, AS WE KNOW, LATINOS CONSTITUTE ABOUT 20% OF THE US POPULATION, AND MORE THAN 40% OF BOTH TEXAS AND HOUSTON, THESE ARE NOT MARGINAL FIGURES.
THEY ARE FOUNDATIONAL LATINO COMMUNITIES ARE SHAPING THE PRESENT AND FUTURE OF OUR CITIES, OUR STATES, AND OUR COUNTRY.
HISPANIC, HISPANIC HERITAGE MONTH IS A TIME TO HONOR OUR HERITAGE, BUT MORE IMPORTANTLY, IT IS A TIME TO CELEBRATE THE PEOPLE WHO CREATED THE ARTISTS, STORYTELLERS, ARCHITECTS, ENGINEERS, ASTRONAUTS, DANCERS, CHEFS, ELECTED OFFICIALS, AND ALL WORKERS WHO INFUSE OUR LIVES WITH FLAVOR, RHYTHM, AND MEANING.
THIS IS A TIME TO CELEBRATE OUR PEOPLE.
SO CONGRATULATIONS TO ALL, AS ALL OF US CAN ATTEST, OUR WORK IS NOT ONLY BEAUTIFUL, IT IS ESSENTIAL TO THE AMERICAN STORY.
SO ALMA EXISTS TO ELEVATE THESE VOICES.
WE ARE A CONVENER AND A BRIDGE, BRINGING LATINO CULTURE CREATORS AND AUDIENCES INTO THE HEART OF OUR SHARED CULTURAL LIFE.
WE ARE PROUD TO WORK IN COLLABORATION WITH LEGACY INSTITUTIONS TO CONTINUE HIGHLIGHTING THE RICHNESS AND DIVERSITY OF OUR CULTURAL CONTRIBUTIONS.
SO TODAY, I INVITE ALL OF US TO MAKE HISPANIC HERITAGE MONTH A MONTH OF LOVE.
LET US BUILD A COUNTERCULTURAL MOVEMENT THAT AFFIRMS THE BEAUTY AND VALUE OF HISPANIC AMERICANS.
LET OUR CELEBRATIONS BECOME, AS MY BOARD CHAIR SAYS, A LOVE LETTER TO THE UNITED STATES, AND LET US GUIDE ALL HOUSTONIANS TO FALL IN LOVE WITH THE PEOPLE WHO GIVE THIS CITY ITS VIBRANT, DELICIOUS, LATINO FLAVOR.
SO, SPREAD THE WORD, THE HOME OF AMERICAN LATINOS IS BEING BUILT HERE IN HOUSTON, AND LET'S BUILD IT WITH PRIDE, PURPOSE, AND THE POWER OF COMMUNITY.
COUNCIL MEMBER WILLIE DAVIS SNUCK IN.
SO ROUND OF APPLAUSE FOR COUNCIL MEMBER WILLIE DAVIS.
ANY OTHER COUNCIL MEMBERS OR ELECTED OFFICIALS? WE FORGOT? OKAY, THANK YOU.
A CCC TRUSTEE, ALL, ANY OTHERS? AT THIS POINT, I WOULD LIKE TO ASK MY ALBA ALMA BOARD MEMBERS, IF YOU CAN JOIN US HERE.
AND I'M GONNA ASK MY, MY CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS TO STAY HERE.
UM, COUNCIL MEMBER, UH, RAMIREZ, UH, HAS BEEN WORKING WITH OUR TEAM, UH, ON, ON A PROCLAMATION THAT WILL BE PROVIDED TO ALMA.
SO, UH, I'M JUST GOING TO ASK, UM, OUR BOARD MEMBERS TO COME HERE.
UH, A FORMER BOARD MEMBER, DAVID CONTRERAS, IF YOU DON'T MIND, WE WOULD LOVE FOR YOU TO JOIN US AS WELL.
AND CO-FOUNDER DAVID CONTRERAS.
COUNCIL MEMBER, YOU'RE GONNA HAVE TO GET CLOSER.
WELL, CARLOS, THANK YOU SO MUCH.
IT'S AN HONOR TO BE WITH YOU HERE, UH, TODAY TO KICK OFF HISPANIC HERITAGE MONTH, RIGHT? BECAUSE TODAY IS NOT ENOUGH.
WE'RE GONNA TAKE A WHOLE MONTH, THE BEST MONTH OF THE YEAR AND CELEBRATE AND RECOGNIZE OUR HERITAGE, WHAT WHAT UNITES US AND BRINGS US TOGETHER, UH, HERE IN THE UNITED STATES.
AND IT'S MY HONOR TO SERVE YOU, UH, ON HOUSTON CITY COUNCIL.
AND, UH, I JUST HAVE TO SAY THANK YOU TO ALMA FOR PUTTING THIS PROGRAM TOGETHER FOR DREAMING BIG AND FOR REALLY PUSHING THIS, UH, CULTURAL CENTER THAT
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WHEN IT'S BUILT, WILL BE THE ENVY OF THE NATION AS FAR AS CULTURAL CELEBRATION AND HONORING OUR HERITAGE.A HERITAGE THAT IS STILL BEING WRITTEN RIGHT, A STORY THAT IS STILL BEING WRITTEN.
AND I'M HONORED TO BE, UH, A VERY SMALL PART OF IT AS, UH, MY FRIEND ROLAND MENTIONED, UH, MAYOR WHITMAR WOULD LOVE TO BE HERE.
HE'S NOT ABLE TO, BUT HE HAS ISSUED THIS PROCLAMATION THAT I WOULD BE HONORED TO PRESENT TO ALMA RIGHT NOW, AND I WON'T READ THE ENTIRE THING.
WE'LL BE HERE ALL DAY, BUT IT RECOGNIZES THAT ON SEPTEMBER THE 15TH, TODAY WE START, UH, CELEBRATING HISPANIC HERITAGE MONTH HERE IN HOUSTON.
AND WHEN WE HONOR ALMA FOR ITS PASSIONATE COMMITMENT TO PRESERVING AND PROMOTING AMERICAN LATINO ARTS CULTURES AND HERITAGE, IT RECOGNIZES THAT, UH, ALMA IS DEVELOPING A LANDMARK ARTS AND CULTURE COMPLEX THAT WILL SERVE AS A VIBRANT HUB FOR CREATIVITY, EDUCATION, AND COMMUNITY, INVITING RESIDENTS AND VI VISITORS ALIKE TO EXPERIENCE LATIN THROUGH A RANGE OF ARTISTIC EXPRESSIONS.
WHEREAS THE CITY OF HOUSTON EXTENDS ITS DEEPEST APPRECIATION FOR ALMA'S VISIONARY LEADERSHIP, DEDICATION TO ADVANCING AMERICAN LATINO ARTS AND CULTURE AND TRANSFORMATIVE IMPACT ON HOUSTON AND BEYOND.
ON THIS, THE INAUGURAL DAY OF HISPANIC HERITAGE MONTH 2025, THE CITY OF HOUSTON IS PROUD TO RECOGNIZE AND CELEBRATE ALMA AND ITS STAFF AND SUPPORTERS FOR THEIR CONTRIBUTIONS TO OUR CULTURAL PRESERVATION, INNOVATION ARTISTICALLY, AND COMMUNITY EMPOWERMENT.
THEREFORE, I, JOHN WHITMEYER, MAYOR OF THE CITY OF HOUSTON, HEREBY PROCLAIM SEPTEMBER 15TH ALMA DAY IN THE CITY OF HOUSTON.
AND IT'S SIGNED BY MAYOR JOHN WHITMEYER.
I DIDN'T THINK I WOULD TEAR UP, BUT, UH, IF YOU SEE SO MANY PHOTOGRAPHERS, VIDEOGRAPHERS, IT'S BECAUSE WE BELIEVE WE ARE MAKING HISTORY.
MAKE SURE YOU ARE IN A PICTURE, BECAUSE THE WORLD HAS TO RECOGNIZE THAT THIS IS A VALIANT EFFORT AND THAT FAILING IS NOT AN OPTION.
SO, WHO IS ALMA? WE'RE LATINO CHANGE MAKERS EXISTING IN AN ECOSYSTEM OF OTHER LATINO LEADERS AROUND THE NATION THAT ARE CHANGING THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA FOR THE BETTER.
MAY I ADD, WE CAN'T WAIT AROUND FOR OTHERS TO DO THIS JOB.
COUNCIL MEMBERS, JUDGES, ELECTED OFFICIALS, VOLUNTEERS, OUR VOLUNTEER BOARD, BECAUSE WE KNOW WE'RE THE ONES THAT NEED TO DO THIS.
HOW ARE WE GONNA DO IT? WE'RE GONNA DO IT WITH INDEFATIGABLE WORK.
'CAUSE THAT'S WHAT IT'S GONNA TAKE.
BUT WE'RE GONNA DO IT TOGETHER.
THAT'S WHAT WE CAN KEEP DOING IT.
ALMA WAS CREATED TO MOVE THE NEEDLE.
YOU MAY SAY, WHAT NEEDLE, SO MANY NEEDLES TO MOVE IN THIS COUNTRY RIGHT NOW? AND I SAY THE, THE NEEDLE OF UNDERSTANDING WHO WE ARE, OUR VALUE, OUR CULTURAL PATRIMONY, AND THE NEEDLE OF INTEGRATING IN THIS GREAT COUNTRY WE ALL CALL HOME.
IT WAS CREATED AS A GIFT TO HOUSTON, HARRIS COUNTY CALLED THE PROPHETIC CITY.
BECAUSE THE REST OF THE NATION WILL GO THROUGH WHAT WE HAVE BEEN THROUGH THE REST OF THE NATION WILL LOOK LIKE WHAT WE LOOK LIKE.
IT WAS CREATED TO BECOME THE NATIONAL SEAT, THE HOME OF OUR COLLECTIVE LATINA.
HOW ARE WE GONNA DO THIS WITH INNOVATION,
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WITH HELP AND INGENUITY, NOT TO SAY WITH A LOT OF FUNDRAISING, BECAUSE WE ARE NOT GOING LITTLE.WE ARE DOING THIS BY STAYING IN LISTENING MODE.
CAN I TELL YOU THAT IS OUR SUPERPOWER, IF ALMA HAS A SUPERPOWER, IS THAT IN EVERY BOARD MEETING, IN EVERY COMMITTEE MEETING, WHAT COMES OUT IS, BUT WHAT DO THE PEOPLE WANT? THIS IS YOURS.
YOU ARE LOOKING HERE AT VOLUNTEER LEADERS, BUT WE DON'T HAVE POWER.
IF WE DON'T LISTEN TO YOU, WE GET OUR POWER OUTTA REPRESENTING YOU IN ORGANIZATIONS IN FUNDINGS.
SO WE ARE OPEN, WE ARE IN LISTENING MODE WITH THE UNDERSTANDING THAT IT IS, AND IT WILL ALWAYS BE ABOUT THE PEOPLE IN PARTICULAR, THE PEOPLE WHO TRULY DON'T HAVE A VOICE.
AND THERE'S MANY PEOPLE THAT YOU ALL KNOW THAT I KNOW THAT ARE VOICELESS IN THIS COMMUNITY AND AROUND THE NATION.
WE ALSO NEED TO KNOW THAT WE WILL NOT BE ERASED.
SO WHEN I TELL YOU, GET IN A PICTURE, I MEAN IT WITH ALL MY HEART, WE WILL NOT BE ERASED.
THIS ERASURE STARTED IN THE 15 HUNDREDS IN LATIN AMERICA IN COLONIZATION.
AND IT HASN'T STOPPED, BUT WE ARE GONNA STOP IT.
IF YOU ARE LISTENING TO THIS, IT'S BECAUSE YOU TOO WANT THIS TO STOP.
WE BELIEVE THAT AT ALMA WE CAN GATHER ALL THE NAMES OF LATINOS.
I PROMISE YOU THAT THOUGH WE, THAT I SPEAK ABOUT IS TRULY EACH ONE OF YOU.
YOU KNOW, WE CAN'T DO THIS ALONE.
WE NEED YOUR CONTACTS, WE NEED YOUR VOICES, AND WE NEED YOU TO SHOW UP BECAUSE AS YOU KNOW, ALMA IS ABOUT SHOWCASING EVERYTHING THAT WE HAVE IN OUR COMMUNITY.
AND WE'RE STARTING WITH HOUSTON.
SO WE NEED YOU TO SHOW UP, STAY IN TOUCH.
WE ARE AIMING AT BECOMING, LIKE CARLOS SAID, THE NATIONAL SEAT OF US LATIN.
AND I ALSO BELIEVE THAT WE SHOULDN'T MAKE ANOTHER BEST KEPT SECRET IN HOUSTON.
I THINK IT SHOULDN'T BE A SECRET AT ALL.
I THINK WE SHOULD BE THE ENVY OF EVERY COUNTY AND EVERY CITY IN THE NATION.
THANK YOU TO THE ALMA BOARD VOLUNTEERS.
THIS WOULD BE NOTHING WITHOUT YOU.
EVERY ONE OF YOU STEPPING TO THE PLATE MORE EVERY DAY, BECAUSE THIS IS GETTING MORE COMPLEX.
THANK YOU TO OUR, UH, FOUNDATION SUPPORTERS, LONG CHU HERE REPRESENTING, UH, THE HOUSTON ENDOWMENT.
A FRIEND OF ALMA INDEFATIGABLE VOICE FOR ALMA IN THIS CITY.
WE COULDN'T DO IT WITHOUT YOUR VOICE.
AND BROWN FOUNDATION, WHO CONTINUES TO INVEST IN US GETTING BIGGER AND BEING ABLE TO PRODUCE THINGS LIKE THIS TO THE MAYOR WHITMAR ADMINISTRATION AND CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS WHO ARE ADVOCATING FOR ALMA TO REACH ITS FULL POTENTIAL.
THANK YOU TO EACH ONE OF YOU, COMMISSIONER ADRIAN GARCIA, WHO IS LEADING THE CAUSE TO CEMENTING THIS AS THE BIGGEST COLLECTIVE DREAM IN AMERICA.
AND IT WAS AN AMAZING MOMENT WHEN DOLORES ERTA WAS HERE, AND WHEN SHE SAID WHAT SHE SAYS, WE GOT UP AND THERE WERE NOT MANY LATINOS IN THE ROOM.
AND ADRIAN AND I WENT AND HELD EACH OTHER AND WE SAID, NOT ONE WORD, BUT WE KNEW IT WAS OUR TIME.
TO OUR DONORS AND SUPPORTERS, THE SIEN, LATINOS AND MADINA ANDINOS.
THOSE OF YOU WHO ARE GIVING EVERY YEAR TO ALMA IN HOWEVER YOU CAN, YOU CANNOT IMAGINE WHAT THAT MEANS IN THE EYES AND THE EARS OF FUNDERS.
THAT OUR COMMUNITY IS BACKING US.
WE, WE WILL ALWAYS WELCOME YOU.
I HAVE SPECIFIC ASKS FOR YOU, FOLLOW
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US ON SOCIAL MEDIA, A REGISTER IN OUR WEBSITE.IF YOU'RE AN ARTIST OR YOU KNOW, ARTISTS, HAVE THEM REGISTER IN THE WEBSITE, SHOW UP, KNOW WHAT'S HAPPENING.
WE ARE IN CONSTANT MODE OF SHOWING THE CITY THAT NOT ONLY WE EXIST, BUT THAT WE EXIST AT AN EXCELLENCE LEVEL.
THAT WOULD BE AN AMAZING HELP FOR US.
I WILL END WITH A QUOTE FROM ONE OF MY HUSBAND'S IDOLS, THE PUERTO RICAN BASEBALL.
ANYTIME YOU HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO MAKE A DIFFERENCE IN THE WORLD AND YOU DON'T, THEN YOU'RE WASTING YOUR TIME ON EARTH.
AND LIKE MY IDOL, DOLORES HUERTA SAYS EVERYTHING.
AND AT THIS POINT, WE ARE GOING TO, UH, SYMBOLIZE, UH, THE SUPPORT THAT THE CITY OF HOUSTON HAS, GI HAS BEEN GIVING US.
UH, I WANNA RECOGNIZE FROM THE VERY BEGINNING, UH, THE INITIAL FUNDING CAME, UH, FROM THE CITY OF HOUSTON.
UH, COUNCIL MEMBER GALLEGOS WANNA RECOGNIZE THAT.
UH, AND CURRENTLY, UM, OBVIOUSLY THE, BECAUSE OF THE RECENT, UH, FISCAL YEAR, WE HAD INCREDIBLE SUPPORT, UH, LED BY, UH, COUNCIL MEMBERS, UH, MARTINEZ, CAST, POLLARD, AND PECK.
UH, SO NOW WE'RE GOING TO DOCUMENT IT WITH A CHECK.
UH, WE'RE GONNA DO A CEREMONIAL, UH, GIVING OF THE CHECK.
SO IF THE, IF MY BOARD, UH, COUNCIL MEMBERS CAN PLEASE JOIN, JOIN US HERE.
UM, AND AGAIN, LIKE I SAID, WHEN WE FIRST RECEIVED THE FUNDING, I THINK IT IS VERY RELEVANT THAT IT'S NOT ONLY OUR LATINO COUNCIL MEMBERS THAT ARE SUPPORTING, IT IS THE CITY OF HOUSTON.
SO, WITH THAT, THANK YOU SO MUCH.
UM, FIRST I GOTTA TAKE THIS IN BECAUSE THERE'S A LOT OF GREAT FRIENDS THAT ARE IN, IN THIS ROOM, AND, UH, I'D BE REMISS TO JUST SAY THAT.
I'VE BEEN ABLE TO SAY HI TO MOST OF Y'ALL.
AND I JUST WANNA SAY SOMETHING REAL BRIEFLY.
UM, AND IT'S A, IT'S A PRIVILEGE AND IT'S AN HONOR, UH, TO BE ABLE TO SEE THIS FROM STAFFORD TO NOW COUNCIL MEMBER.
UM, TO BE A PART OF SOMETHING THAT IS, IS GRAND, UM, AS A CHICANO FROM SECOND WARD, EAST END, UM, AND A FAMILY OF 12.
TO BE ABLE TO NOT ONLY BE ABLE TO PROVIDE, UM, OR HAVE A SPACE WHERE SOMEONE LIKE MYSELF CAN FIND THEIR WORTH, THEIR IDENTITY, I THINK THIS IS WHAT IT'S ABOUT.
AND SO, AS WE RECOGNIZE OUR HISTORY, I DEFINITELY, I'D BE REMISS TO NOT RECOGNIZE SOME YOUNG FOLKS.
AND I SAY YOUNG FOLKS, UM, SOME OF 'EM MIGHT NOT FEEL LIKE THEY'RE YOUNG, BUT THESE ARE THE INDIVIDUALS THAT YOU NEED TO START KEEPING YOUR EYE ON BECAUSE IT'S NOT JUST ABOUT OUR HISTORY, IT'S ABOUT ACCEPTING IT AND PASSING IT ON.
SO FOLKS LIKE SARAH WITH VALERO, RACHEL, RACHEL, WITH OUR TAX ASSESSOR'S OFFICE, WE HAVE UMBERTO WITH SPACE MEDIA WHO'S HERE, A SMALL BUSINESS OWNER.
IF YOU CAN RAISE YOUR HAND, I WANT PEOPLE TO KNOW WHO YOU ARE.
UM, AND I SAY THAT WHOLEHEARTEDLY BECAUSE AS WE RECOGNIZE OUR HISTORY, IT'S IMPORTANT THAT THE YOUNG FOLKS BEHIND US OR WITH US CAN ALSO EMBRACE IT, BECAUSE THESE DOLLARS, THESE PUBLIC DOLLARS ARE IMPORTANT.
BUT AT THE END OF THE DAY, IT'S ONLY IMPORTANT AS MUCH AS WE'RE ABLE TO RECEIVE IT.
AND SO I JUST WANNA SAY THANK YOU TO ALMA, TO THE MAYOR'S ADVISORY, UH, BOARD FOR EVERYTHING THAT THEY'RE DOING.
AND THEN TO MY COLLEAGUES, UM, COUNCILLOR POLLARD, COUNCILLOR PECK, COUNCILLOR CASTILLO, AND OF COURSE, UH, RAMIREZ, DAVIS, AND CARTER.
UM, THESE DOLLARS ARE PUBLIC DOLLARS.
MY ASK TO YOU ALL NOW IS DIG IN YOUR POCKET, BECAUSE AS THESE PUBLIC DOLLARS ARE GOING TO YOU ALL, WE ALL HAVE TO BRING NOW TAKE OUT OF OUR OWN POCKETS TO MAKE SURE THAT WE SEE THIS COME TO FRUITION AS WELL.
WE HAVE, WE HAVE INCREDIBLE SPEAKERS HERE WITH US, BUT I, I, BECAUSE WE ALSO WANT TO SET, TO CONTINUE OUR CELEBRATION WITH FOOD, UH, AND INCREDIBLE POETS AND MUSIC.
UH, THANK YOU AGAIN TO ALL OF OUR COUNCIL MEMBERS.
AND WE DO WANNA, UH, CLOSE WITH ONE OF OUR BIGGEST CHAMPIONS.
COMMISSIONER GARCIA, IF YOU DON'T MIND GIVING A, A FEW CLOSING WORDS.
AND YOU GUYS, UH, YOU KNOW, UH, YOU, YOU, YOU SOUND ASLEEP WHEN I START THIS.
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THIS IS A CELEBRATION.AND, UH, BEFORE I GO INTO MY REMARKS, I, I THINK IT'S VERY APPROPRIATE, UH, TO MAKE SURE THAT WE GIVE, UH, LIGHT, UH, TO, UH, PEOPLE WHO MAKE THINGS POSSIBLE.
AND IN THE AUDIENCE TODAY ARE THE BEAUTIFUL PARENTS OF CARLOS.
UH, LET'S RECOGNIZE HIS BEAUTIFUL PARENTS.
I HAD THE PLEASURE OF MEETING THEM EARLIER, AND I TOLD THEM I GOT 50 BUCKS IN MY POCKET IF YOU GIVE ME LITTLE CARLITO STORIES.
UH, THEY, THEY KEPT JACKING THE PRICE UP.
BUT LISTEN, THIS IS AN INCREDIBLE, UH, CELEBRATION.
I WANNA THANK THE MAYOR'S, UH, HISPANIC ADVISORY.
ROLAND, THANK YOU FOR YOUR LEADERSHIP.
AND ALMA, UH, ALMA IS A, THE WORD ALMA IS A, I'M SORRY, LA LET'S GIVE LENORA A NICE ROUND OF APPLAUSE.
BUT ALMA IS SUCH A, A, A BEAUTIFUL WORD IN ITSELF.
UH, IT REPRESENTS THE STRONGEST AND MOST, UH, WARMTH THING ABOUT, UH, THE LATINO COMMUNITY.
REGARDLESS OF WHAT WALK OF LIFE, UH, YOU MAY COME FROM, WHETHER IT IS FROM BRAZIL, AS WE HEARD THE BEAUTIFUL MUSIC OF BATALLA OR, UH, THE MEXICANOS WHO, UH, REPRESENT THE, THE CHICANOS THAT, UH, JOAQUIN IS A PART OF.
AND SO IT IS VERY APPROPRIATE THAT THIS INCREDIBLE ENDEAVOR IS BEING LED BY AN ORGANIZATION THAT HAS TAKEN, UH, THE NAME OR THE, THE, THE, THE, THE SOUNDING OF THAT WORD AS ITS NAME.
UM, YOU KNOW, WHEN WHEN CARLOS AND, AND MASSEY AND UH, AND UH, GERALDINA HAD, UH, COME TO VISIT WITH ME AND TALKED ABOUT THE VISION, IT WAS ONE OF THOSE MOMENTS WHERE YOU HAD ME AT HELLO, BECAUSE, YOU KNOW, AND I, AND I APPRECIATE THE QUOTE, UH, THAT SHE JUST, UH, SHARED ABOUT MAKING SURE THAT YOU USE YOUR TIME WISELY, UH, WHILE YOU ARE ON THIS EARTH.
UH, BECAUSE I REMEMBER MY FATHER, WHEN I DECIDED, UH, TO JOIN THE HOUSTON POLICE DEPARTMENT, UH, HE TOLD ME,
DON'T BE ASHAMED THAT YOU'RE MEXICAN.
DON'T BE ASHAMED THAT YOUR NAME IS GARCIA.
DON'T BRING SHAME TO YOUR NAME.
NEVER EVER FORGET WHERE YOU COME FROM.
AND ALL TOO MANY YEARS HAVE GONE BY THAT HOUSTON AND HARRIS COUNTY HAS BEEN BLESSED TO HAVE HAD PIONEERS IN ITS EARLIEST DAYS.
AND THEN HOUSTON HAS BEEN BLESSED TO HAVE HAD PEOPLE WHO HAVE MADE HOUSTON OR HARRIS COUNTY, ITS HOME IN RECENT YEARS.
BUT ALL THE WHILE, REGARDLESS OF WHAT, AT WHAT POINT OF TIME IN HISTORY, THE COMMUNITY HAS MADE HOUSTON OR IN HARRIS COUNTY, ITS HOME, EVERY SINGLE ONE HAS COME WITH THAT PULL THEIR BOOTS UP BY THEIR BOOTSTRAPS ATTITUDE THAT CAN DO ATTITUDE.
THAT IS HOUSTON, HARRIS COUNTY.
THEY HAVE COME HERE TO MAKE A DIFFERENCE AND TO MAKE A CONTRIBUTION AND TO GIVE BACK TO THIS TOWN EVERYTHING THAT THEY CAN POSSIBLY GET FROM IT.
THAT IS WHO THIS COMMUNITY IS.
AND I REMEMBER WHEN MY PARENTS, UH, CAME TO THE UNITED STATES AND MADE HOUSTON ITS HOME, UH, THE FIRST THING THAT MY DAD THOUGHT ABOUT DOING WAS TO PULL THE STATION WAGON OVER.
AND THERE'S MAYBE A FEW PEOPLE IN HERE.
REMEMBER WHAT A STATION WAGON IS,
AND MY OLDEST BROTHERS, UH, WERE SAYING, DAD, YOU KNOW, WHAT'S WRONG IS THE, IS IT ON FIRE? WHAT ARE WE DOING? AND MY FATHER SAID, NO, WE GOTTA SAY A PRAYER.
YEARS LATER, I WOULD ASK, UH, MY BROTHER, WHAT, WHAT WAS DAD'S PRAYER? AND MY BROTHER SAID, I DON'T REMEMBER, BUT IT SOUNDED LIKE THE NATIONAL ANTHEM
AND SO I ASKED MY DAD, I SAID, HEY, YOU KNOW, ES WHAT DO YOU REMEMBER THE PAIR THAT YOU GAVE? AND HE GOES, IT WAS AFFIRMING THAT
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WE WERE COMING HERE WITH A PURPOSE.I GOT TO, UH, MY DAD GOT TO SEE MY FIRST ELECTION.
MY MOTHER IS STILL WITH US AT 101.
AND SO ALMA, AND EVERYTHING THAT IS REPRESENTATIVE OF THE ENDEAVORS THAT COUNCIL MEMBER GALLEGOS, UH, STARTED WHEN HE WAS ON COUNCIL WITH SECURING THE, THE EARLY FUNDING AND THE SUPPORT THAT I'VE BEEN BLESSED TO BE IN A PLACE, UH, OF OPPORTUNITY TO SUPPORT ALL THAT.
TO BE SAID, THAT HISTORY IS NOT MADE BY ACCIDENT.
THE PEOPLE HAVE COME HERE WITH AN INTENTIONAL PURPOSE.
AND, AND THAT IS TO MAKE A CONTRIBUTION AND DEMONSTRATE THAT WE HAVE ALL THE OPPORTUNITY, ALL THE RIGHT, UH, TO BE HERE AND CALL THIS OUR HOME AS WELL.